Monitor Audio Product Reviews 2016

Product Reviews 2016
“...they excelled in producing great detail
and had a nice wide dispersion...”
John Sciacca, Residential Systems, July 2015
“Their ribbon tweeters worked pure
magic...”
Colin Smith, Soundstage! Access, September 2015
“...imaging was amazing and the
speakers almost disappeared.”
David Susilo, Wifihifi, September 2015
» Platinum PL500 II
“The surprise of CES for yours truly, the
Monitor Audio Platinum PL500 II.”
Jonathan Valin, The Absolute Sound
CES Report 2016
“...exceeded sonic expectations, delivering high-end quality (think
Raidho-like)
beyond those well-known brands’ respective price categories.”
Julie Mullins, The Absolute Sound
CES Report 2016
“...in a world where seven-driver, three way designs featuring custom-made drive
units in a cabinet that stands as tall as a man can cost the spendy side of $100,000, a
loudspeaker
that sounds this good commands respect.”
Alan Sircom, Hi-Fi +
CES Report 2016
“...this wasn’t just about brute force, the speakers proving capable of
considerable air and delicacy when required, making these genuine high-end
contenders.”
“...this is a product that threatens to cut a lot of the
competition
off at the knees.”
Roy Gregory, The Audio Beat
www.monitoraudio.ca
www.monitoraudiousa.com
PLATINUM II
reviews
» Platinum PL200 II
“Monitor Audio has indeed taken a major step
toward the ever-elusive impression of ‘live’ sound.”
Robert Deutsch, Stereophile
CES Report 2016
“...sonics were rich, nicely weighted, with excellent integration
of the difficult-to-handle tweeter/midrange transition.”
Neil Gadar, The Absolute Sound
CES Report 2016
“At a conversational volume level, the Platinum 200 II was tonally
balanced and sweetly detailed, a panacea for overburdened
auditory ossicles.”
For Best Bedroom-Sized Stereo System, Monitor
Audio shares a Jimmy Award with Cyrus Audio
Jim Saxon, The Audio Beat
» Gold 300, Gold C350,
Gold W-15, Gold FX
(Gold 300 System)
“I thoroughly enjoyed the sound I was hearing
through the Gold Series speakers.”
“Immediately, I noticed an airy quality to the recording that I
hadn’t heard before, no doubt compliments of the extended
high-frequency response provided by the ribbon transducer.”
“…all of the micro details were present, from the fingertip
friction sounds on the guitar strings to Angus’s breathing to
the decay of piano notes.”
“…the soundstage was very wide, again compliments of the
ribbon transducer. And the Gold 300 speakers reproduced
it all with the tonal neutrality found among only the best
loudspeakers.”
“…the Gold 2.1 setup reproduced these low notes with
such accuracy, conveying all of the majesty and scale
of this excellent recording.”
“The W15 provided an excellent deep-bass foundation, adding to the scale and
impact of this selection.”
“...the best-sounding surround system at its
price point that I’ve ever heard, period.”
“At the other end of the frequency spectrum, the ribbon transducer again
presented a much wider-than-average soundstage with more space between
instruments. This increased scale helped bring a greater sense of realism to the
music.”
“As soon as the scene cuts to Cooper in the aircraft, my wife asked me, ‘Is the
room supposed to be vibrating?’ My first thought was, ‘OMG, this sub goes
really low. I mean, chest-thumping low!’. We were hearing (and feeling) the most
visceral bass we ever have ever experienced in this room. I just turned to my
wife and said, ‘The room’s not vibrating, we’re vibrating.’”
“While all of that gut-wrenching bass was pressuring up the room, dialogue
articulation remained superb, and the more diffuse presentation of the
surrounds in dipole mode helped to provide a more seamless 360-degree
soundscape.”
“Scene after scene, I marveled at the clean, coherent nature of the Gold
Series sound.”
“The drivers just blended together seamlessly, presenting a wider thanexpected soundstage.”
“The trifecta of special features I mentioned—including the ribbon
transducer, 18Hz frequency-response limit of the sub, and the
versatility of the monopole/dipole surrounds—all contribute to the
excellent performance.”
» Gold 100
“…the Gold 100s
certainly score highly for
their overall sound…”
“…the tweeters lived up to their promise of
tonally accurate treble…”
“…the lower frequency bass cone has
benefited from an upgrade, pumping out a
better bass sound than earlier models…”
“…really come alive when the volume is
cranked up, but, importantly, they also work
well at low volumes…”
Bob Barrett
HomeTheaterReview.com, August 2015
BBC Music Magazine, June 2015
www.monitoraudio.ca
www.monitoraudiousa.com
Gold
GOLD
reviews
» Gold 200
“For smaller floorstanders, the Gold 200s produced both
great quantity and quality of bass, and their midrange
clarity and ultrawide, holographic soundstaging would
make them a good choice for music and home theater.”
“...the quality of sound that most struck me was the amount of solid, deep,
distortion-free bass produced by two pairs of 5.5” woofers in relatively small
cabinets.”
“Through the Gold 200s these elements were clean as a whistle, even at
near-painful volume levels. It was satisfying to watch the woofers take the
punishment I dished out without looking as if they wanted to pop free of the
cabinets. The Gold 200 is one tough speaker.”
“Not only were her every breath and lip smack clearly audible, but the
spaciousness of the recording practically induced agoraphobia in me.”
“The illusion of sound appearing “to originate from the centre point between
the speakers” mentioned in the owner’s manual was apparent in spades, the
music floating in space like the Lexus Slide hoverboard.”
“Their ribbon tweeters worked
pure magic...”
“Pitting the Monitor Gold 200s’ ribbon tweeters against the aluminum-dome
tweeters of my Definitive Technology Mythos STs struck me as bringing a
gun to a knife fight -- all else being equal, the much lighter ribbon can react
far more quickly than a dome, and has a far greater radiating surface, not to
mention frequency extension.”
“Bass definition was a British victory, the Gold 200s’ punchy, advanceddesign woofers doing a better job of keeping up with whatever bass I threw
at them.”
“Monitor Audio’s Gold 200 is a well-made, attractively
styled, thoroughly modern loudspeaker that would look
and sound great in most settings.”
Colin Smith, SoundStage! Access, September 2015
» Gold 200
“...The Gold are sovereign.”
“I knew the GX50 and their impressive bass performance very well, so
I was expecting an even more percussive result with the Gold 200, and I
was not deceived!”
“It is remarkable that the addition of a second woofer, well integrated into a
larger cabinet, can make so much difference, even if this one only has a 5.5
inch diameter... the precision, the impact and the depth of the bass are of a
level of quality rarely heard on speakers with such a small foot print.”
“On Dance Of The Tumblers the bass is vigorous, has a credible fullness and is
admirably integrated with the other transducers; you would believe that a good
subwoofer is hidden in the room somewhere.”
“On the midrange, the sonic portion that separates the common from the lords, the
Gold are sovereign. The voice reproduction is incredibly precise and tri dimensional,
the piano, the saxophone and the percussions are fantastic.”
“The panorama of the two Golds extends to all the front wall of my room even if they
are only two. I have to open my eyes to place them physically.”
“It is often said that the first couple of weeks of a new relationship are idyllic and
that we rarely find faults in our partner. It was the same with the Gold 200. But I am
convinced that with more time spent with them, I would not have been able to find
imperfections or weakness.”
“An exemplary construction, a sexy and seductive look paired
with acoustical and musical high level performance.”
François Lemieux, TED Magazine, November 2015
» Gold 200
» Gold 300
“The tweeter is a work of art and
never sears or grates...”
“As I continued to listen, I could not help noticing how well
integrated the Gold 300’s ribbon tweeter and its midrange
driver were...”
“The cabinet is a work of art.”
“Fit and finish was top-notch, flawless in fact — truly a thing of beauty.”
“...the Gold 200 certainly has a very refined
bottom end, one which performs just as
it should — tuneful, extended and taut, it
makes this reggae classic a pleasure.”
“The tweeter is a work of art and never
sears or grates; instead it throws a lot of
light on the high frequencies, giving a lively and sparkling sound.”
“The cymbals on Night Nurse are sweet, smooth and delicate yet have a realistic
bite; by contrast some similarly priced rivals can sound splashy and coarse.”
“One great benefit is the wide range that the ribbon tweeter works over; it
seamlessly sashays down into the midband unit which has a similar tonality. Its
metal cone matches the ribbon really well, giving a largely invisible transition
between the drivers and it’s this partnership that is central to the sound.”
“...a most impressive sound — snappy,
spacious, fast and open, I am also
rather taken with the bass.”
“Clean and clear — almost translucent, even — its midband and treble drivers
provide an open window into the recording.”
“There’s an intrinsic rightness and consistency to this speaker that makes even
complex productions like this so listenable.”
“...I am impressed by just how loud the Gold 200 goes without showing any real
signs of distress, or even compression — this floorstander keeps things together.”
“...it makes for a vivid, seat-of-the-sofa listening experience. I find myself really
being pulled into this immersive track.”
“The speaker images extremely well, hanging some elements of the mix far back
and pushing others out right at the listener.”
“Unlike so many floorstanders currently on sale, even at this price, there is no
sense that you can hear the cabinets joining in. There’s no bottom end boom,
even with the bungs removed, and nor does the bass slur the music, dragging
behind the midband as many bigger boxes do.”
“This is an extremely able loudspeaker with great depth of
engineering. It uses excellent drive units from bottom to
top, and these integrate brilliantly to produce a realistic and
enjoyably musical sound.”
“The overall quality of finish is excellent and it feels
very much like the premium product that it is.”
David Price
Hi-Fi Choice, August 2015
“It was interesting to find that the Monitor Audio Gold 300 was more explicit in its
sound than either of my own reference loudspeakers. I use the term explicit to try
to encapsulate the greater intensity, richer tonal colour and bolder musicality with
which the Gold 300 sang.”
“Focusing on the bass, I was impressed with the punchiness and heft that I heard,
while the treble offered plentiful detail and was
well extended with a refined smoothness.”
“Though the soundstage produced was
appreciably open, I perceived a subtle
warmth in the air surrounding and between
the various elements, as though it
possessed more consistency.”
“Voices and instruments were depicted in a
“...a speaker that
should please many
and leave few wanting.”
way that was compellingly natural.”
“As I continued to listen, I could not help
noticing how well integrated the Gold 300’s
ribbon tweeter and its midrange driver
were – neither one drawing attention to
itself. This is quite an accomplishment...”
“...the slow thumps of the opening kick
drum on the track were not only heard
but were felt within my room, much like
I’m accustomed to experiencing with my
full-range Montan VIII speakers; however,
bass weight and dynamic punch with the
Gold 300 was even greater.”
“There was also an engaging vigor in
the portrayal of the guitars, while the
resonance of the guitars amps possessed
a charming sweetness. Crispness in the
cymbal hits was apparent, open and airy,
yet never crossing the line into dryness.”
“The bass line, came across as smooth,
solid and full; weightier than I’ve heard
before.”
“Soundstage depth and width was
substantial – with the flanking trumpets on
this track seeming to come from beyond
the side wall boundaries of my room.”
“Vocal recordings seem a little
fleshier, more corporeal, while bass
sounds full and impactful. The ribbon
tweeter is excellent – detailed, fast but also
very smooth, never crossing over to the harsh.”
George de Sa
Canada Hi-Fi, November 2015
www.monitoraudio.ca
www.monitoraudiousa.com
Gold
GOLD
reviews
» Gold 300, Gold C350, Gold W-15,
Gold FX (Gold 300 System)
“The sound is immediately engaging, grasping you by the
senses and dragging you into a movie with ease.”
“Monitor Audio’s new Gold series is both big and clever.”
“...the finish is superb.”
“As I’d already been immediately impressed by the clarity and power of the Gold
300AV package, this massive rise in bass weight and overall scale — and with
no hint of any distortion or lack of linearity — caught me by surprise.”
“MA’s leaf tweeters offer enormous detail with no stridency at all.”
“With Turbo, I was surprised by how powerfully these surround speakers could
play... The movie puts you on a racetrack with automobiles zooming through
your viewing room. The power and speed of the sudden increase in engine
noises was astonishing.”
“As each Indy car comes from behind and out through the front, some on the
left, then some on the right, the sound through the Gold system was almost a
physical blow and terrifyingly realistic.”
“With the Gold 300AV you get delicious
performance in every direction. You
could pay more and get less.”
“The three-way Gold C350 centre speaker does a truly full-scale job, and
presents dialogue in its stride. Gunfire, shouting and breaking glass during
Chappie’s Johannesburg riot scene are rendered perfectly with no congestion.
Impressive.”
“...it feels as if there is no limit in depth. It easily pressurised my entire room.”
“So, the Gold 300AV array costs plenty but offers enormity. It
has might and it has clarity. It can play sweet and linear at low
levels or it can frighten the neighbours’ neighbours.”
» Gold 300
“...it’s an audiophile bargain.”
“...an awful lot of speaker for the money. Standing just over a metre
tall and displaying a quality of finish that could embarras many
speakers costing five times the price.”
“The result was frankly pretty remarkable for a speaker at the price, the
G300s sounding refreshing and honest to the source recordings while
remaining well-mannered and controlled whatever music was thrown at it.”
“Indeed, from the word go the G300s exhibited a crisp and vivid
sound quality...”
“...play a beautifully balanced audiophile recording and you’ll find yourself
thinking ‘This sounds utterly sublime... why spend more?’”
“Monitor Audio’s ribbon tweeter sounds as sweet and delightfully open as ever in
this latest ‘300.”
“...the bouncy rhythm of the piece was notably quick-footed and ‘snappy’, with
outstanding fluency.”
“It goes loud and stays clean sure enough, its bass delivery solid and satisfying with
more than enough grunt at very low frequencies to rattle bookshelves and make you
draw breath.”
“Percussion exhibited delicious delicacy and striking realism, the quietest of cymbal
strokes conveyed with precisely etched detail as reverberant ‘zinging’ decayed to
silence.”
“...this classy floorstander commands attention to the music, sounding open-mouthed
and extended over an unusually wide frequency range given its modest stature.”
“It served up a masterpiece of phrasing, harmony and rhythm.”
John Bamford
Hi-Fi News, October 2015
Adam Rayner, Home Cinema Choice, October 2015
Awards
» Silver 8
» Silver 8
“Talk about hopes realized! From the second the
system was powered up, the Silver 8s impressed me.”
“The overall presentation is hearty and generous,
definitely offering a lot of sound for the money.”
“Bass from that pair of C-CAM woofers goes very deep.”
“The Silver 8 is simply gorgeous...”
“They will boogie when asked: they can do scale, weight, and authority; timing is
respectable; and soundstaging is generous and well-proportioned.”
“I heard a welcome clarity in the midrange that gave all music a natural
presence...”
“When the price is taken into account, it’s quite the package — and as an allrounder, the Silver 8 delivers a satisfying and well-judged performance.”
“I could hear no fault with the Silver 8 with voices that span the crossover
frequency.”
“At low levels, the speaker’s low end was in good balance... and the louder I
pushed them, the more power and impact the Silver 8s delivered, without boom.”
“I found an abiding source of pleasure in how the Silver 8 was never caught out
by the bass information in any recording.”
“I found the Silver 8’s bass remarkably solid and satisfying.”
“I’ve been looking at speakers for $3000/pair
or less for a while, and have not heard any that
I would prefer to the Monitor Audio Silver 8.”
“These are fun loudspeakers with a big,
confident sound, deep and spacious
soundstage, and respectable dynamics.”
“...deep and open soundstage, with plenty of air and space...”
“The vocals are better focussed, the instruments are played with more sensitivity,
and the song is more meaningful and affecting as a result.”
“...lively and tuneful, the percussion has clear timing and balance, and there is
more sense of the piece building to a climax and conclusion...”
“...the generous bass and the impact and drive from those two paired bass
drivers will satisfy many...”
“There’s little to say about the Silver 8’s treble.
Although it was detailed and extended, it was also
smooth and untiring.”
“...big-hearted and generous partners with a sense of fun and musicality. They
can raise their game when called upon to do so, but they can just as easily work
within a modest system, and get more out of it than you might have expected.”
“...as with the best speakers — those costing
far more than the Silver 8’s $2,000/pair — the
high frequencies, almost all overtones, were
unobtrusively integral to the music, not distinct from
the midrange fundamentals. I greatly appreciated
this with recordings of both small and large
ensembles.”
“What I did find, during my time with the Monitor Audio Silver 8s, was that I often
just put on music and enjoyed the experience.
“I can’t say that listening in stereo via the Silver 8s
was anything less than delightful.”
“Their soundstage was deep and, if I wanted to
focus on the instrument placements instead of
the music, there was a wealth of stable detail to
appreciate.”
“I think Monitor Audio has produced an all-rounder in the
Silver 8, one that will impress in an AV system, while still
satisfying with two channel.”
“They are perfectly capable of raising the
hairs on my arms, or making me grin like a
loon.”
Steve Dickinson
Hi-Fi +, January 2015
“...well defined stereo presentation and
almost ideal tonal balance.”
“My, did the Silver 8s deliver.”
“...I’m at a loss to point to
any way in which, for its size
and price, the Monitor Audio
Silver 8 disappointed.”
Kal Rubinson
Stereophile, January 2015
www.monitoraudio.ca
www.monitoraudiousa.com
sILVER
reviews
» Silver 6
“No other compact music system that I
am aware of could capture the scale of
this music so effortlessly, or so energize a
listening room, as did these in mine.”
“I could crank these speakers to great effect, enjoying
clean output at volumes unsafe for extended listening.
They were as comfortable reproducing the sound of
a solo violin as of a symphony orchestra, and their
ability to convey real-life dynamics was exemplary.”
“...this recording’s dramatic changes in tempo and
dynamics were tracked wonderfully by the S6, whose
clean, composed presentation made it easy to follow
the madness. What fun! This is exactly why anyone
who loves music should own a pair of speakers like
these.”
“The C-CAM drivers sounded quick and incisive, with a real crispness that
made them seem fast; by this, I mean that they offered a tight, controlled
sound that could start and stop on a dime.”
“Using a word like crisp to describe a speaker’s sound might seem to imply
that that sound was bright. The S6 was not bright. The superb level of detail
it uncovered was not the result of tipping up the high frequencies to draw
attention to them in a way that one might mistakenly perceive as enhanced
detail. Rather, it was the combination of several factors, including their solidly
constructed cabinets and high-quality drivers, that gave the S6s excellent
clarity and allowed them to possess such magnificent resolution.”
“Based on what I heard, I’d say
that the bar for what one can expect
from a speaker costing less than
$2000/pair has been raised.”
“Rather than belch out loose, woolly bass in an effort to dig down a few more
hertz, their low-end output fell off fairly quickly, leaving behind punchy, agile
bass. Despite being of only modest size, they were able to create a big sound
with more than enough power to energize my room. I never felt the need for a
subwoofer or bigger speakers.”
“...the drums sounded quick and incisive, propelling the track forward with a
great sense of pace, rhythm, and timing.”
“...the Silver 6 costs just one-third of the Argon3L’s price. That’s what makes
the Monitor remarkable. While they aren’t sonically identical, both should
appeal to listeners who value resolution, imaging, and transparency, and who
also want a speaker that can rock out and sound effortless while doing so.
That the Silver 6 did this for a fraction of the Argon3L’s price while coming very
close to the Amphion’s level of performance I found incredible, and it makes
the Monitor an amazing value.”
» Silver 10, Silver Center,
Silver 2, Silver W-12
(Silver 10AV System)
“Monitor’s impressive Silver series is a
triumph, a treat to hear, and well worth
seeking out for a serious audition.”
“A good sub was clearly needed in my situation,
and on music the W-12 did the trick. Drums were
tight and punchy. Organ had impressive weight...
there was never a sense of something missing;
the bass was satisfying when present in the
source and unobtrusive when not.”
“The W-12 is clearly an audiophile-quality
subwoofer, and more than satisfying on music.”
“...on well-recorded material their sound was open
and detailed, with an appealingly real sparkle and
liveliness.”
“Honestly, I couldn’t
have wished for more
from any system.”
“The all-important midrange was also a treat.
There was no obvious coloration. Closely miked
vocals sounded as immediate as they should;
more distantly recorded performers were laid-back
where they belong. Image depth (if present in the
recording) was good, and lateral imaging precise.
The latter was no surprise. Most speakers in my
room, including the Silver 10s, produce a center
image so convincing that you’d swear the centerchannel speaker is working when it isn’t.”
“This is a tightly contested segment of the speaker market, and there are
other worthy options, but they don’t all look as good as the Silver 6, and even
fewer offer the sort of clarity and resolution of these amazing performers.”
“In conveying the movie’s extreme dynamics,
natural dialogue, precise scene-to-scene
ambience, and (most notably) astonishing score, the Silvers left nothing on the
table. Honestly, I couldn’t have wished for more from any system.”
“After living with them for a while, I can say that this British speaker is the
perfect solution for someone who cares about good sound...”
Philip Beaudette
Soundstage Access, August 2014
“You just might be as immensely impressed by what Monitor Audio has
accomplished here as I was.”
Thomas Norton
www.SoundandVision.com, July 2014
» Silver 6, Silver Centre, Silver FX,
Silver W12 (Silver 6AV12 System)
PROS:
• Exciting yet refined sound
• Lovely build and finish
• Clever subwoofer software
“As well as convenient controls, the whole package is built to the
impeccable standards we’ve come to expect from Monitor Audio.”
“... the company has put huge thought into the way that the Silver series
will make a first impression. The build quality is excellent too.”
“The top end of the latest Silver range is extremely impressive. The detail
that Monitor Audio specialises in is still present in spades but there is a
smoothness to how it presents material that I haven’t really experienced
before.”
“Even when pushed to high volume levels, the Monitor Audios are
utterly unflappable and free of aggression.”
“The Expendables is still a plot vacuum of the first order but the
Monitors manage to create a sense of order and cohesion in the
combat sequences that is vital to making sense of events. Even as
levels climb, they stay controlled, detailed and very engrossing.”
“A factor that helps the performance is that the main C-CAM driver
used across all the speakers has enough impact to mean that the
subwoofer is augmenting them rather than having to work above its
comfort zone. Gunfire has real punch and impact and the dialogue
(such as it is) is still clear and easy to follow.”
“The whole package is built to the
impeccable standards we’ve come to
expect from Monitor Audio.”
“This leaves the Silver W12 to get on with the business of sub bass and this is
something it does extremely effectively.”
“Bass extension is deep, clean and extremely potent. Furthermore, the APC
system does genuinely work to avoid resonance or room spikes.”
“When watching the cheerful insanity of Troll Hunter, the way that the
FX opens out the Norwegian forest is excellent. The diffusion of sound
effectively creates the impression of there being more than two sources for
it and the out of phase dipole setting in particular is extremely effective.”
“What makes this more exciting still is that while it looks excellent, this
is a package that delivers sonically too. The performance is exciting
but easy to live with and the dedicated surround speakers and
clever subwoofer setup software give these speakers a cinematic
performance that is unfailingly enjoyable.”
“If you want a speaker package that delivers on
sound and aesthetics, this is a great place to start
looking.”
Ed Selley
AVForums.com, April 2014
» Silver 6, Silver Centre, Silver FX,
Silver W12 (Silver 6AV12 System)
VERDICT: This is a top notch
surround package for the money.
“The complete Silver package is a deeply impressive performer.”
“Its talents start with superb build quality extending to a wide range of finishes,
and end with sound quality that will worry most rivals.”
“Here the Silver’s clarity comes to the fore, and the package’s ability to keep
control over a wide range of sound effects as well as the main vocal track
impresses.”
“This film also highlights the quality of the Silver Centre, as it renders voices with
impressive insight and precision.”
“We’re taken with the subwoofer too. It’s not unduly large but delivers a powerful
and punchy performance.”
“In stereo, the Silver 6s emerge as insightful, polished performers...”
“With a surround disc such as Michael Jackson’s This Is It, it’s the cohesion
between the channels that comes to the fore, as well as the punch, authority and
agility on offer.”
“Overall, this Silver 6AV12 is a hugely capable package.”
What Hi-Fi? Sound and Vision, March 2014
www.monitoraudio.ca
www.monitoraudiousa.com
sILVER
reviews
» Silver 2
“Excellent all rounder with a performance way
beyond its price.”
“It’s an excellent sounding loudspeaker, blessed with plenty of clarity
and immediacy plus weight and depth, and its very own distinctive,
highly detailed sound.”
“...the Monitor Audio can deliver all the power it needs, but does so in a
more relaxed and less forced manner than many similarly priced rivals.”
“Snare drums sound tight, while treble is delicate and smooth; the
tweeter reveals real delicacy that makes rivals seem rather ragged in
comparison.”
“The Silver 2 pushes out a wider soundstage than its rivals.”
“You can really hear inside and drill down into the low-level detail, in a
way that many rivals simply don’t allow.”
Hi-Fi Choice, November 2014
» Silver 2
the abso!ute sound
“The Silver 2 seduces. It is homogeneous and well balanced on
the spectral level.”
» Silver 10
“Even while listening to a symphonic orchestra, you never feel frustrated
regarding the sound level. The air circulates freely between the instruments.”
“...the Silver 10s are more than just adequate; they are one
of the best $2500-and-under full-range floorstanders I’ve
heard…”
“The timbres are rich and dense. The dynamic opulence and stability conclude
this very beautiful speaker.”
Diapason, January 2015
» Silver 1
• Beautiful construction and finish
• Advanced proprietary drive-units
• Fantastic treble and surprisingly potent bass
“Monitor Audio’s Silver 1 is a gorgeously crafted
bookshelf speaker with mostly excellent engineering,
surprisingly powerful bass, and world-class treble.”
“...the Monitor Audio Silver 1 is an excellent speaker. Its fit and finish rivals or
exceeds speakers its size two price classes up.”
“The Silver 1’s crossover shows engineering excellence both heard and
measured, and the tweeter is a marvel.”
“Sonically, the Monitor Audio Silver 1 has gutsy bass, and treble that’s a window
into the source material. Monitor Audio’s Silver 1 does an awful lot right, looks
beautiful, and is worth a close listen.”
Jay Haider, www.hometheaterhifi.com
Secrets of Home Theater and High Fidelity
February 2016
“I listened to this song on repeat for almost 45 minutes after a day of listening and
my ears weren’t fatigued. Next came Stevie Ray Vaughan’s “Texas Flood,” which
is another song that can be plenty fatiguing; even after the Lofgren torture test,
SRV was as pleasing as ever.”
“...great voicing, solid bass when properly spaced from the rear
walls, an engaging soundstage, and a diverse ability to sound great
with a wide range of music. Really, what more could you want from
an affordable speaker?”
Spencer Holbert
The Absolute Sound, December 2014
Awards
PRODUCT OF THE YEAR!!!
» Bronze 5, Bronze Center, Bronze FX,
Bronze W10 (Bronze B5 AV System)
“... a brilliant surround sound speaker package...”
“We play Taxi Driver on Blu-ray and are immediately struck by the film’s jazz
accompaniment. Instruments are brilliantly organized and offered a generous
amount of space in which to breathe, but most of all they are expressive and
terrifically rhythmic.”
“Voices are clear, warm and expressive, there is depth to sounds such as the fizz
of Travis’s Alka-Seltzer and real attack to the gunshots.”
“Monitor Audio has taken a
previous Award-winning package
and raised the bar for its rivals.”
“This is a reasonably-priced speaker package, but that doesn’t restrict it from
exploring the nuances of a dejected, lonely film.”
» Bronze 5
“The presentation is beguilingly natural and coherent with
a solid, rhythmic bass, spacious soundstage and rock
solid image stability.”
“...straight away I’m hooked by the bijou tower’s powers of resolution and capacity
to dig deep into a recording.”
“The inner detail it captures can sometimes seem mesmerizing, especially at late
evening volumes with laid back material, exhibiting the kind of poise and graceful
balance that invites listening into the wee hours.”
“Yes, refinement, clarity, oodles of couth and that lovely ability to sound
simultaneously airy and tactile.”
“Whack up the volume and the impetus and impact grows just as you’d hope, but
with no loss of grip and precision.”
“It reinforces the argument that, pound for pound, Britain makes some of the very
best hi-fi speakers on the planet. And that’s something we can all enjoy.”
“That such compelling clarity, grip, dynamics and enormous
musical insight can be experienced from a slim box at a beer
budget price is a powerful statement.”
David Vivian
Hi-Fi Choice, September 2015
“Changing tack with ParaNorman, the Bronze
B5 AV is equally comfortable with the scale
and intensity of the modern-day family-focused
animation.”
“Those same characteristics of rhythm, detail
and organization are present as the zombies
chase Norman and co. through the woods, only
now with a healthy injection of power.”
“The surround sound field is cohesive, and
there’s great tonal matching between the
channels. They feel comfortably in control,
without being restrained, delivering perilous
thrill and slapstick humour with consummate
ease.”
“Unsurprisingly, the results are much the
same in stereo... we remain impressed by
the balance, dynamics and expressiveness
that keep us hooked.”
“...we like this speaker package a lot.
Monitor Audio’s decision to hand down
driver technology to its Bronze range
has raised the standard.”
“This package delivers a
sound that is bold and
capable of great subtlety
and dynamics.”
What Hi-Fi? Sound and Vision
October 2015
www.monitoraudio.ca
www.monitoraudiousa.com
Bronze &reviews
MR
» Bronze 5, Bronze Center, Bronze FX,
Bronze W10 (Bronze B5 AV System)
“Monitor Audio has hit the jackpot with this
new Bronze system.”
“The Bronze 5 is simply gorgeous. For a so-called affordable speaker it has the
air of a high-end model, thanks to its elegant styling and rock-solid cabinet —
you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better made floorstander for the money.”
“As Chris Hemsworth narrates the opening scenes in a half-decent Scottish
accent, his voice becomes a life-like presence in the room. It’s solid and
focused but dripping with detail, as the drivers reveal the huskiness and
sibilance of his delivery.”
“There’s a lovely sense of depth to music and voices that keeps you hooked.”
“Every scene is bursting with detail and texture...”
“As they creep over the bridge, every footstep has a delicate, textured crunch,
while the trickling stream and eerie ambience flitter from every speaker.”
“As the creature thumps the stream and rips up a tree trunk, Bronze renders
the splashing water and splintering wood with wonderful crispness and
precision. Subtleties such as these make the soundstage seem utterly
realistic.”
“It’s sumptuous design is worth every
penny of the asking price, while
sophisticated sound quality turns music
and movies into a thing of beauty.”
“...there’s plenty of power on offer. The troll’s roar fills the room without
sounding harsh and its footsteps land with a taut, heavy thud.”
“The powerhouse subwoofer anchors the action with slamming, subterranean
bass notes, while the speakers handle dynamic shifts with aplomb.”
“...the surround speakers do a fabulous job of immersing you in the action. The
ceiling shatters and shards of glass rain down on you from every angle with a
clean, airy tinkle.”
“Bronze’s polished approach works wonders when playing music. It’s subtle,
sensitive two-channel treatment of Miles Davis’ ‘Blue In Green’ on CD sends
shivers up my spine.”
“Bill Evans’ piano chords are like audio velvet and Coltrane’s sax solos boast
great presence and tons of detail... Bronze’s crystal clear, distortion-free
reproduction puts you right there in the recording studio.”
“It’s a remarkably detailed and insightful performer, but doesn’t
skimp on power and scale. This is thanks to a powerhouse
sub that doles out deep, thumping bass like it was going out of
fashion.”
“...musically we think it’s second to none.”
Danny Phillips
Trusted Reviews, September 2015
“The MR1 bookshelf speaker is attractive in appearance and
size. It has a solid feel because of its rigid cabinet bracing and it
looks just as good, with the grills on or off, as its larger siblings.”
“...vocal clarity was convincingly good — in fact much better than I
would expect from a speaker at this price point.”
“Immediately I noticed a greatly wider and immersive soundstage on all
recordings as well as a much tighter and focussed centre image. The music
seemed to move around more, feel more fluid and had room to breathe.”
“The MR4 speakers had no difficulties turning my room into a concert hall and
delivered the appropriate reverberation and liveliness of the great musicians on
stage.”
“The loud rock of “Marilyn Manson: Guns, God, and Government Live in L.A.”
pumped out full-on aggression and sounded very dynamic.”
“The MRW-10 subwoofer blended very well with the mains and did not disappoint.
Where the MR4 and MR1 rolled off, the MRW-10 took over seamlessly.”
“I can honestly say that this system would beat most speakers that you’d find in a
big box store, even those sold at significantly higher price points. These speakers
are particularly well suited for movie and surround music discs, and come with a
subwoofer that’s tight without much overhang or distortion.”
“When good appearances and sound come together as one in an affordable package
- everyone wins!”
Suave Kajko
Canada HiFi Magazine September 2012
“This is a truly
complete speaker
for the money.”
» Bronze 2, Bronze Center, Bronze FX,
Bronze W10 (Bronze 2AV System)
“Monitor Audio has delivered a gold medal performance
with the latest Bronze speakers.“
...the Bronze pack puts in a strong showing from the off... The fine detail retrieval
is excellent...”
“...stunning standmounters.”
» Bronze 2
“...hugely talented performers.”
“Monitor Audio’s Bronze range is back with a bang.”
“The W10 manages to produce meaningful weight with the movement of
locomotives as it does with crunching impacts and explosions.”
“Low frequencies are articulate and delivered with plenty of control.”
“There is no sense of bloat or boom and the W10 manages to do the all important
job of any sub and load a room with a believable sense of pressure.”
“We’re impressed by the Bronze 2’s ability to stay composed, even at high volumes,
and by the scale of their presentation... This is a carefully-honed pair of speakers
that brim with refinement.”
At the back, the FX does a fine job of simply generating a greater sense of a rear
soundfield... It never sounds forced or unnatural, it just works.”
“There is seamless integration across the front three speakers and thanks to
the FX rears throwing a portion of their information forward, the front to back
cohesion is extremely good too.”
“...some of the best built, most
attractive and musically satisfying
speakers at the price point.”
“The more you listen, the more it becomes clear that the Bronze Centre is a bit of
a star. It never draws attention to itself but effortlessly fills the space between the
left and right channels and does an especially fine job with dialogue.”
“There’s plenty of attack here and a fine sense of drive. Rhythmically, these
speakers have a good amount of precision and communicate the momentum of the
piece well.”
“The Bronze 2s’ open and explicit midrange makes the most of vocals, delivering
them in an expressive way, while there’s plenty in the way of attack to keep us
interested.”
“For their size, these speakers dig deep in the bass; they’re tonally balanced and
impressively detailed too. Add fine build and Monitor Audio’s usual high standard of
finish and there’s much to applaud here.”
“It’s a spellbinding performance, out of keeping from
what we normally hear at this level.”
What Hi-Fi? Sound and Vision
July 2015
“Everything stays clear and easy to understand and it serves to lock information
to the screen extremely well.”
“The same detail, speed and cohesion that sees the Bronze package deliver the
goods with multichannel is present when the Bronze 2 is run as a stereo pair.”
“...the Bronze 2 is able to work without subwoofer assistance and it
works brilliantly.”
“There is plenty of power, effortless drive and smoothness to the
performance and consistently believable tonality.”
“Monitor Audio has managed to create a set of speakers
that delivers a convincing cinematic performance that is
a cut above the competition at the price.”
Ed Selley
AVForums.com
October 2015
www.monitoraudio.ca
www.monitoraudiousa.com
Bronze &reviews
MR
» Bronze 6
“These, I thought, are phenomenal
speakers.”
“Capturing the scale and impact of such music is
vital, and the Bronzes delivered big... the 6es had a
big, überdynamic sound.”
“The 6es’ bass performance checked every box: fast, articulate, punchy
without being fulsome or overbearing, and reasonably deep without losing
control.”
“The Monitors soundstaged superbly to re-create the explosive nature of the
proceedings, with coherent, convincing center fill, precise imaging, and a
surprising sense of depth.”
“Their reproduction of the midrange was quite strong, especially for a 2.5-way
design; the strings and brass in this track were reproduced with crystalline
clarity, crisply and concisely.”
“The speaker did nothing wrong — which,
in light of the price, is a tall compliment to
Monitor’s engineers.”
“The speaker’s treble response was clean and
extended, without glare or brightness.”
“...the Bronze 6’s sound was consistent and well
integrated from top to bottom of the audioband.”
“Adele’s voice imaged perfectly between the 6es
— its delivery could have cut glass. Direct and
incisive, the power of her voice shone through
with remarkable definition, as the leading and
trailing edges of her voice had a start-stop
quality that demonstrated terrific control.”
“Adele’s every inhalation, rapid change of
pitch, and breathily delivered word was easily
audible.”
“When speakers costing under $1,500/pair do
a minimum number of things wrong, they have
really achieved something. To my ears, Monitor
Audio’s Bronze 6 is near faultless.”
“...its exciting, dynamic sound makes every
listening experience memorable. Taut, punchy
bass, broad soundstaging, a clean, articulate
midrange, and remarkably composed sound
at high SPLs make the Bronze 6 an easy
recommendation.”
“Monitor did everything very, very
well.”
“This killer loudspeaker is a highwater mark of audio value.”
Hans Wetzel
Soundstage Access, December 2015
» MR4, MR1, MR Center &
MRW-10 (MR 5.1 System)
“The MR1 bookshelf speaker is attractive in appearance and
size. It has a solid feel because of its rigid cabinet bracing and it
looks just as good, with the grills on or off, as its larger siblings.”
“...vocal clarity was convincingly good — in fact much better than I
would expect from a speaker at this price point.”
“Immediately I noticed a greatly wider and immersive soundstage on all
recordings as well as a much tighter and focussed centre image. The music
seemed to move around more, feel more fluid and had room to breathe.”
“The MR4 speakers had no difficulties turning my room into a concert hall and
delivered the appropriate reverberation and liveliness of the great musicians on
stage.”
“The loud rock of “Marilyn Manson: Guns, God, and Government Live in L.A.”
pumped out full-on aggression and sounded very dynamic.”
“The MRW-10 subwoofer blended very well with the mains and did not disappoint.
Where the MR4 and MR1 rolled off, the MRW-10 took over
seamlessly.”
“I can honestly say that this system would beat most
speakers that you’d find in a big box store, even
those sold at significantly higher price points.
These speakers are particularly well suited for
movie and surround music discs, and come
with a subwoofer that’s tight without much
overhang or distortion.”
“When good appearances and
sound come together as one in an
affordable package - everyone wins!”
Suave Kajko
Canada HiFi Magazine
September 2012
Awards
» Radius R90, R200 Center, R390
Sub (Radius R90 System)
“...living room-friendly looks and spine-tingling
sound quality.”
“Pacific Rim’s shots of crowded streets in Hong Kong’s Bone Slums are alive
with the sounds of hissing rain, beeping rickshaws and chattering voices,
delicately scattered around the spacious soundstage like audio confetti.”
“With towering Jaegers and Kaiju stomping through cities and oceans, this is a
movie that demands impact and scale — something this system achieves without
batting and eyelid.”
“...the clatter of the robot’s metal armor and the beast’s rasping roars boast
remarkable attack and aggression, without sounding bright or synthetic.”
“Furthermore, these little speakers display the sort of slam and dynamism you’d
expect from larger designs, hitting that sweet spot between excitement and
refinement that leaves you feeling entertained but not violated.”
“The subwoofer plays a part here, of course; it pummels the room with
authoritative bass notes delivered with supreme depth and grip.”
“...the 390 forms a tight union with the satellites, resulting in a cohesive
soundfield, and one backed up by the sort of snappy steering that Sebastian
Vettel would be proud of.”
» Radius R90, R200 Center, R390
Sub (Radius R90 System)
Classy looks; balanced sound; excellent integration;
controlled bass; clear dialogue.
“If you yearn for a discreet 5.1 set-up, this should be on your radar,
because it’s a remarkable success.”
“The sum of these separate parts is a system that works together beautifully.
Integration between fronts, rears and the sub is seamless. The surround field is
gapless, effects flow between channels effortlessly and you’re immersed in the
action.”
“Dialogue through the centre channel is clear and communicative.”
“We’ve heard enough bass boxes to know that they can often be the Achilles’
heel of 5.1 systems, but not the 390. It displays a potent combination of precision
and weight with no fear of bottoming out or losing its grip.”
“And the Radius speakers work wonders with music, whether you’re playing a
CD or listening to a multichannel music Blu-ray. Spin Michael Jackson’s Beat
It and there’s a solid bassline, a great sense of timing and impressive dynamic
clout.”
“We highly recommend it.”
“Idris Elba’s nonsense dialogue, meanwhile, is imbued with an almost life-like
presence by the Radius 200, with the dual midbass drivers underpinning his gruff
English tones.”
“And with music material, it’s equally good... the R90HT1
demonstrates outstanding timing, agility and detail retrieval.”
“One of the best compact 5.1 systems money
can buy? Certainly!”
Danny Phillips
Home Cinema Choice, February 2014
AVTech Media Awards
“And, with its sumptuous design, the R90HT1 will
grace any living room or movie den.”
“Detailed soundtracks are treated with respect,
while dialogue from the Radius 200 centre
enclosure is full-bodied.”
“This system mixes both eager
dynamism and impressive scale
with poise and insight.”
Hi-Fi News, Hi-Fi Choice,
Home Cinema Choice
www.monitoraudio.ca
www.monitoraudiousa.com
What Hi-Fi? Sound and Vision,
August 2013
radius
reviews
» Radius R90
LITTLE AUDIO DYNAMITE
“They might look small, but they pack
one hell of a mighty punch.”
“...a wonderfully fast, engaging and
incisive sound...”
“...sophisticated and seamless.”
“They can fool the ear, leaving the
listener questioning the evidence that
their eyes are giving them. One reason
for this is the solidity and speed and articulation
of the bass; given a little rear-wall reinforcement,
it comes out of its shell and shows itself to be
amazingly lithe and communicative.”
» Radius R270
“The 270 is a simple, elegant little speaker...”
“My ears perked up right away when I heard the super-spacious,
ambient soundstage the Radius 270 threw out on guitarist Gabor
Szabo’s The Sorcerer, a 1976 side recorded live at the Jazz Workshop
in Boston.”
“The Radius 90 beams vocals and instruments out
with laser-like precision.”
“I loved the way the Radius 270 seemed to recreate
the acoustics of the venue so precisely.”
“...the wee Monitor Audio acquits itself superbly
with this superb recording, showing a richness
and warmth that you might not expect from such a
modest priced — and indeed sized — box.”
“Steely Dan’s Aja sounded very smooth, with the hardto-reproduce piano in the recording showing no trace
of the unpleasant hardness most speakers give it.”
“It’s not just tonally clean and smooth, but is also very good at keeping in
phase.”
“Indeed the rhythmic alacrity and ability to signpost dynamic contrasts in the
music is on a higher level than almost all price rivals.”
“The tweeter is superb; spacious and extended yet smooth and delicate.”
“The end result is a little loudspeaker that’s quite
simply big audio dynamite!”
David Price, HiFi Choice
January 2014
» Radius R90 (With Airstream A100)
“My favorite ‘normal music’ track, Toto’s Rosanna,
sounded positively huge through the Radius 270,
with the colossal, reverberant sound I imagine the
group was going for.”
“I liked what the Radius 270 did with vocals in general;
every singer I played through it sounded smooth, with
no notable sibilance or midrange coloration.”
“These are excellent results. Any speaker that
measures with no more than a + 3 dB variation on-axis
is generally considered to be pretty well-engineered,
and the Radius 270 meets that standard easily.”
“The advantage of the Radius 270 is that it gives you
the refinement of those speakers in a form factor that’s
vastly more appealing and much less likely to garner
complaints from your significant other.”
“For playing jazz or folk or light classical, it’s probably
all you need. Add a good little subwoofer and the
Radius 270 should equal the output of its bigger,
bulkier competitors.”
Brent Butterworth, About.com Stereos, March 2014
“...sounded warm and full, with lovely texture in the strings.”
“Rava’s trumpet had delicious bite without being overbearing, and Stefano
Bollani’s masterful piano work was beautifully delineated.”
“Larry Grenadier’s double bass sounded surprisingly satisfying.”
“...the drums had really good impact and the cymbals appropriate sizzle, and
the piano sounded big and enveloping. The whole album is really fun to listen to
through this lovely little system.”
“...this is a very enjoyable system, equally satisfying when
listening up close, or when sitting back and listening out loud
in a small to medium-size room.”
Wifihifi, July 2015
Awards
» MASS 10, MASS Center, MASS
W200 (MASS 5.1 System)
» MASS 10, MASS
Center, MASS W200
(MASS 5.1 System)
PLUS:
• Unique design
• Beautiful imaging
“The Monitor Audio MASS is an impressive system in
many ways.”
• Surprising dynamic capability
“Big, bold, bombastic sound from a relatively small and
quite affordable package.”
“The only name I can think of that would more accurately capture the essence
of the MASS speaker system’s sonic gusto would require that the cabinets
themselves be roughly spherically shaped and sold in pairs, and I’ll leave you to
flesh out that bit of innuendo for yourself.”
“Unlike so many speakers of this size, the MASS 10s and MASS Centre cross
over beautifully at 100 Hz when freestanding and 90 Hz when wall-mounted.”
“Even without the benefit of room correction, though, the MASS system
delivered the dialogue with the utmost clarity, rendering every yibberin’ word
cleanly and precisely.”
“I’ve heard very few speaker systems—especially at this price point—capture
the supremely holographic qualities of the mix any better.”
“It’s an incredibly cohesive, yet utterly
expansive sound experience.”
“...the MASS manages the most important achievement of any sub/sat system - it
sounds bigger than it actually is. The climactic showdown between cops
and crims in The Last Stand is handled with assurance and a sense of space that
is very appealing.”
“The use of identical satellites means that the handover from speaker to speaker
is seamless and this further aids the sense of being in the thick of the action.”
“The MASS also manages to sound believable with voices and other details. The
woods in Trollhunter convey a genuine sense of creepiness and claustrophobia
and voices have the weight and impact they need to sound right.”
“The sub itself is a good performer too... The movement of the trolls is captured
with real depth and enthusiasm and there is little you are likely to encounter
in a film soundtrack that it won’t do justice to. There is plenty of detail as well impacts are not simply a dull thud but manage to compete with the satellites for
nuance and believability.”
“It sounds big, bold and extremely capable and
nothing I used it with in terms of film or
broadcast TV sounded anything other than
deeply impressive.”
Ed Selley
AVForums.com, June 2013
“Amazingly, in 2.1 mode, the speakers delivered yet another astoundingly
holographic soundstage that wonderfully penetrated the room.”
“...the system does so much so well that it raises one’s expectations beyond
a reasonable point. I’m not saying Monitor Audio’s MASS speaker system is
perfect; I’m merely saying that when it does exhibit any shortcomings, pointing
them out sort of feels like scolding a gifted grade-schooler for bringing home an
A-minus in differential calculus.”
“...connect and configure the MASS system, fire up some decent demo
material, and marvel at these relatively itty-bitty speakers’ ability to generate
some absolutely gargantuan sound, with wonderfully holographic imaging, an
enormous soundstage, and—perhaps best of all—virtually seamless integration
between satellites and subwoofer, something you normally have to sacrifice
with a speaker system this small.”
Dennis Burger
Sound & Vision
December 2013
» MASS 10, MASS Center,
MASS W200 (MASS 5.1 System)
“For the money, it delivers heaps of
atmosphere and detail — you’ll be endlessly
entertained.”
“There’s an immediate and wonderful sense of grandness to the
MASS sound.”
“The sense of scale from the Monitor Audio package is
astounding, and gradual shifts in dynamics are handled with
more ease by the MASS system, resulting in an engaging
experience with whatever film you’re watching.”
“What struck us immediately was the sense of scale and power
— for such petite speakers, we were blown away by the big and
confident output of sound.”
“Our testing rooms were engulfed in
seamless, controlled soaring dynamics. It’s
not just the magnitude of the sound, but also
the amount of detail it’s able to convey that
really impressed us.”
“...we haven’t heard anything
better at this price.”
What Hi-Fi? Sound and Vision
November 2012
www.monitoraudio.ca
www.monitoraudiousa.com
» MASS 10, MASS Center, MASS
W200 (MASS 5.1 System)
mass & apex
Apex
reviews
“The MASS 5.1 system gives a good account of itself, easily justifying the price
tag. As you’d expect given the satellites homogenous nature, there’s a smooth
sound on show here as material moves around the soundstage. The overriding
impression is one of clean high-frequencies and fulsome mid-range.”
“Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Greatest Hits (CD) oozes out of the MAs with foot-tapping
panache; the rhythm section unmuddled and tight, the percussive tocks and
tings cleanly picked out.”
“Bestowed with fantastic amounts of computer-derived bass, track like Hocus
Pocus give the MA woofer a chance to flex its muscles, dropping deep and,
essentially, turning your living room into a seedy nightclub. It’s absolutely
awesome.”
“...the sound is crisp, detailed and utterly immersive.”
“Overall, Monitor Audio’s newest product lineup is the perfect partner for a
mid-range AVR in a living room cinema setup. Everything from the build
quality and design to movie and (sub-assisted) music performance
impresses.”
Home Cinema Choice, February 2013
» A10, A40, AW-12
(Apex 5.1 System)
“Looks good, sounds even better.”
FOR:
• Excellent sound • Fine styling
• Clever design
• Luxurious build.
AGAINST:
• Nothing to note
“...the Apex system delivers. It’s
gorgeously styled and expertly
assembled.”
“What sets the Apex apart is its sonic prowess - which is considerable.”
“This sophisticated design helps the Apex deliver an articulate and reassuringly
powerful sound even when listened to in isolation.”
“When the ensemble is underpinned by the stentorian efforts of the AW-12
subwoofer, a compact yet muscular bassmaker, the result is sound that more than
matches Monitor Audio’s lofty aspirations. It’s muscular when called upon, but
articulate and beautifully integrated too.”
“As a result, it plays music almost as well as it relays film sound, capturing both
vocal intonation and instrumental detail with relish.”
“The Monitor Audio Apex is a remarkable newcomer.”
Verdict: An expensive style system, to be sure, but also a fabulous one.
What HiFi? Sound and Vision, August 2010
» Apex Series
“Large-scale sound; no-nonsense looks; good
integration; plenty of punch.”
“Apex doing a great job of placing instruments on the stage around you in
space.”
“But the overall impression is one of big standmounters rather than bijou style
speakers.”
“It’s a luxurious proposition, this system. ..its sonic character and build do
elevate it above the competition.”
“It’s well worth every one of its five stars, too,… it has the best
all-round satellite speakers of its similarly priced peers.”
What HiFi? Sound and Vision,
October 2011
Awards
» CP-CT150, CP-WT260, CP-WT380IDC,
IWS-10, IWA-250 (CP Trimless System)
Great sound and detail; flagship speakers deliver true
audiophile performance.
“Installation proved a snap, with the company’s Tri-Grip, three-position dog-ear
mounting system holding the speakers securely in place.”
“Also, the magnets on the grilles are very powerful, and I never heard them rattle,
even at high volumes.”
“...the CP-CT150 actually surprised me by how much bass they were capable of
producing.”
“What they didn’t produce in bass, though, they made up for in clarity, where
they excelled in producing great detail and had a nice wide dispersion that did an
admirable job of filling the room with sound.”
“Moving to the WT260 produced a clearly noticeable and meaningful sonic step
up the audio ladder, as the speaker’s larger drivers and superior technology
produced significantly louder and deeper bass and enhanced midrange
presence, as well as volume output.”
“Sonically, these are moving into the land of true bookshelf replacement, with rich
audio that has plenty of depth and detail, as well as SPL.”
“With the 260s, the standing bass on Diana Krall’s ‘Fly Me to the Moon’ had far
more pluck and resonance, and Krall’s throaty voice had that intimate, in-theroom-with-you quality on ‘Case of You’ that makes it such a great recording.”
“...they excelled in producing great detail
and had a nice wide dispersion that did an
admirable job of filling the room with sound.”
“As nice as the 260s sounded, they were just the sonic warm-up act for the
380IDCs.”
“The 8-inch woofer’s extended reach was clear on all material... Paired with
a good amplifier, the 380s produce enough palpable bass that a sub is barely
missed.”
“I also found the 380s to be smoother and less forward sounding than the 260s.”
“How good did the 380s sound? I had them in my showroom leaning against
some tower speakers with built subs and playing some music, and a customer
listened for a while and then said, ‘Wow! Those tower speakers really sound
great. Who makes those?’”
“The IWA-250 amp provides enough control to blend the sub’s bass to
match the speaker, room, and listening preference.”
“...it (IWS-10) definintely produces those lowest octaves in music, giving
extra weight and presence to the sound.”
“I wasn’t really aware of how much it was adding until I turned the amp
off and the bottom disappeared.”
“In the age-old choice between aesthetics and
performance, Monitor Audio’s Controlled Performance
Series proves listeners can have both.”
John Sciacca
Residential Systems, August 2015
» CT-265IDC & Silver Series
(ATMOS 5.1.2 System)
“The Silver series, and especially the CT-265IDC, truly
create an amazing enveloping sound...”
“With the IDC module installed, these
speakers become true three-way designs,
offering superior performance and
flexibility over typical two-way or
fixed-angle speakers.”
“...the imaging was amazing and
the speakers almost disappeared.
However, when the thunder struck,
I could clearly locate the source of the
thunder, but still not the speaker itself.”
“All of the speakers (and especially the
CT-265IDC) are effective in terms of dispersion
angle, yet they all sound very controlled at the same time.”
“When I played the sound-only track called Abduction, all I had to do was close
my eyes, listen to the soudntrack, and I felt like I’d been ‘abducted’ by aliens.”
“I almost forgot I was using in-ceiling speakers instead of Atmos-enabled
speakers. Yes, the dispersion angle is that wide.”
“The speakers were impressive overall — it turns out the 18-degree angling
capability makes a whole lot of difference for an Atmos experience.”
“...this set of speakers with proper calibration performed
closer to a true Dolby Atmos commercial theatre setup
than any others I’ve tried. And they do that without
breaking the bank.”
David Susilo
Wifihifi, September 2015
www.monitoraudio.ca
www.monitoraudiousa.com
Custom &reviews
SF
» SoundFrame Series
» SoundFrame SF1
“Never mind comparing SoundFrame with other flatpanel
speakers – these bad boys put many floorstanders to shame.”
“Their sound quality is sensational, and leaves you wondering how they’re able
to imbue movies with such an amazing sense of depth and authority given the
slimness of the cabinets.”
“The SF1s and SF2s boast power in spades and achieve an awe-inspiring sense
of scale with action sequences.”
“But what’s most impressive is how smooth it all sounds. Effects glide around
the soundstage like butter on a hot knife, high frequencies never grate (even the
screech as the Elemental flings a car at a helicopter) and there’s a general fluidity
and sophistication to the sound.”
“Add to that the rich and distinctive voice reproduction, insightful detail and silky
music playback and you’ve got a real winner on your hands.”
“Monitor Audio’s SoundFrame series is not only innovative and stylish but also a
wonderful performer, delivering a logic-defying sense of scale and power that puts
many full-sized speakers to shame.”
“The range of grille options is a great idea, bringing with it a sense of
fun, while build quality is superb…if you want a system that blends
seamlessly with your décor then SoundFrame is money well spent.”
Danny Phillips
Trusted Reviews, October 2011
» SoundFrame Series
“The SoundFrame both complements slim video displays and also adds its
own element of stylish room design with a selection of distinctive frames and
customizable grille cloths.”
“With only 3.5 inches of depth, the SoundFrame speaker is unobtrusive,
whether mounted on a wall or flush into standard cavity wall construction and is
simple to install either way.”
“A high-gloss, lacquer frame further contributes to the aesthetically pleasing
design.”
Lindsey Adler
Residential Systems, October 2011
“Very impressive, and a good alternative to
conventional cabinet speakers.”
“These are well-made, well-finished units.”
“They’ll surprise with the reach and agility of their bass, while their clever
drive unit arrangement ensures that imaging, even when the speakers are
some way above your seat, is excellent.”
“Smooth, spacious sound; good
weight; excellent build and finish;
comparative value.”
“We can’t see any reason not to select the SoundFrame 1s. In any case, at
the price they’re an attractive proposition.”
What HiFi? Sound and Vision
February 2012
HOME ENTERTAINMENT
» Climate 80
“...as soon as I began listening to the CL80s,
I realized that these speakers were in an
entirely different class.”
“I was immediately presented with clean, sweet sounding midrange, where most of
the music and vocals take place. Vocals were reproduced with accuracy and sang
with realism. String instruments offered great detail and texture. All of the tracks I
listened to had a rich, natural sound.”
“Something else that I was pleasantly surprised with was the soundstaging.”
“High frequency extension and definition was excellent thanks to the C-CAM gold
done tweeter. This helped a great deal when reproducing the high notes of string
instruments and flutes, for example.”
“Bass performance was well beyond what my JBLs were ever capable of. This was
of course thanks to the Auxiliary Bass Radiator and the larger driver/enclosure. This
greater bass extension injected some additional life into instruments like bass guitars
and kick drums.”
» 300 Custom Install Series
(W380LCR & C380FX)
“The speakers have a signature timbre I’ve
heard in other Monitor Audio loudspeakers.”
“The Monitor Audio system sounded very
natural. The music in the action sequences
immersed the viewer in the suspense and
the speakers created a very convincing
soundfield with excellent dialog clarity.”
“The Monitor Audio Series 300 in-wall/inceiling speakers offer great performance
and real value. They have a musical sound
quality that will likely please the ears of
casual and critical listeners alike.”
Gary Altunian
Home Entertainment Magazine
“I listened to the CL80s for many hours on my
patio and they brought pleasure to my ears
every time, regardless of music selection.”
They played equally well with indie rock and classical music, and everything
in-between. I also had a chance to play them for a few friends who were quick to
comment about their engaging sound quality.”
“I have no qualm saying that the Monitor Audio CL80 is the best sounding outdoor
speaker I’ve had the pleasure of listening to because that’s truly the case. This
speaker enabled me to enjoy music outdoors like never before.”
“Aside from a fantastic sound, you’ll be pleased with their versatile mounting options
and rugged build quality. With four different models, you’re sure to find one that suits
your patio size and budget. Happy outdoor listening!”
Suave Kajko
Canada Hi-Fi, June 2014
HOME ENTERTAINMENT
» Controlled Performance Series
“I see immediately that the CP Golds feature better drivers than most in-wall
and in-ceiling speakers do.”
“Indeed, the CP Golds achieve far better sound quality than most other
in-walls.”
“Would it be too much to say that the Monitor Audio CP Gold In-Walls and
In-Ceilings are the speakers that the world has been waiting for?”
“... they are definitely speakers that I have been
waiting for - and I know many music aficionados,
movie fans and custom installers will agree.”
Brent Butterworth
Home Entertainment Magazine
Awards
www.monitoraudio.ca
www.monitoraudiousa.com